Regional Connection

For years, one long-time Burien business advertised Burien as the
“Center of the Known World.” Both residents and businesses agree that
Burien’s hub location offers great connections to the region (and the world!). The central location means that jobs and entertainment are
convenient, travel times are less, and a more relaxed pace prevails in
the residential neighborhoods. Burien enjoys direct 15-minute access to
Seattle by State Route 509 (Burien’s ‘private freeway’), which serves as
the major entrance to Seattle’s commercial, industrial, and rail
district. Burien’s central location means I-5, I-405, Sea-Tac
International Airport and Sound Transit Light Rail stations are all
within 5 minutes from Burien’s downtown.

The Port connection

A
major economic engine in the Puget Sound region, Sea-Tac International
Airport is the ninth busiest airport in the United States and continues
to grow at record pace. More than 45 million passengers traveled through
Sea-Tac Airport in 2016, and more than 65 million are expected annually
by 2035. The airport ranks in the top 20 in air cargo volume nationally,
and is responsible for more than 100,000 direct jobs, including 32,000
jobs on-site. Just five minutes from neighboring Sea-Tac Airport,
airport-related businesses and employees have found Burien an ideal
place to locate.

Transit and light rail accessible (now!)

While many Puget Sound communities will wait 25 years for easy access to light rail, Burien has light rail just minutes away right now. Downtown Burien’s transit center has abundant parking and is just a 15 minute bus ride to light rail in Tukwila.

Future transportation investments

More
than $1 billion in investments coming to State Route 509 from the
Washington Department of Transportation in the next decade will support
economic development and job growth as it connects manufacturing centers
around the Puget Sound with our major Ports and urban areas. The
Northwest Seaport Alliance is the fourth-largest container gateway in
North America, and the expansion of State Route 509
to Interstate 5 will expedite travel between the Alliance’s two
members, the Port of Seattle, and Port of Tacoma. Burien’s prime
location on SR-509 between the two ports will give it greater visibility
and economic opportunity on a regional stage.

Future investments
by King County Metro and Sound Transit in Burien’s mass transportation
infrastructure include two new Bus Rapid Transit lines from Burien to downtown Seattle (opening in 2020), and to the eastside, including
Bellevue and Redmond. There is also a funded planning study of a Sound
Transit Light Rail route from Burien, through West Seattle, to
downtown Seattle.

Soundside Regional Alliance

The
Soundside Alliance for Economic Development is a regional partnership
of five cities (Burien, Des Moines, Normandy Park, SeaTac, and Tukwila),
the Port of Seattle, the Seattle Southside Chamber of Commerce, and
Highline College. Alliance partners work together to promote economic
development through programs dedicated to increasing job opportunities
and incomes for Southwest King County residents, and stimulating
high-quality business investment and real estate development in the
Soundside area.